3 MOUs to strengthen bilateral ties approved by Indian Government
In the first week of April, Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved three MOUs with Afghanistan, Iran & Canada, which will result in strengthening bilateral relations and individual level connection with the respective countries.
Cooperation Arrangement between India and Afghanistan for cooperation in the field of food safety and related areas:
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the signing of a Cooperation Arrangement between Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) and Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock (MAIL), Afghanistan for cooperation in the field of Food Safety and related areas.
The cooperation arrangement will facilitate information sharing training and capacity building measure and learn from each other’s best practice to improve food safety ecosystem | Image: Global Risk Insights
The areas of cooperation include the following:
- Establishment of a mechanism of information exchange and communication;
- Facilitating technical exchange on identified topics of interest especially about import procedures, quality control operations, sampling, testing, packaging and labelling;
- Facilitating/organization of joint seminars, workshops, visits, lectures, training programme, etc;
- Other areas of interest to the participants within their responsibilities as they may mutually determine.
The cooperation arrangement will facilitate information sharing training and capacity building measure and learn from each other’s best practice to improve food safety ecosystem.
MoU between India and Iran on the establishment of an expert group on trade remedy measures:
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Iran on the establishment of an expert group on trade remedy measures to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The MoU was signed on 17 February 2018 during the visit of the President of Iran.
Image: Reuters
The MoU will promote cooperation between the two countries in the area of trade remedies such as exchange of information, capacity building activities, cooperation in investigations related to anti-dumping and countervailing duty, etc.
MoU between India and Canada to foster cross-border partnerships focused on research excellence and industry-academic collaboration:
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Canada. The MoU was signed on 21 February 2018 in New Delhi.
The MoU aims at fostering cross-border partnerships focused on research excellence and industry-academic collaboration between India and Canada that brings robust innovation gains to both countries.
Image: Huffington post
Igniting collaboration through talent mobility is the core of the partnership. The MoU enables Indian and Canadian researchers to undertake graduate-level academic research mobility and cross-border industry-academic cooperation. Under the graduate level academic research mobility programme, both sides intend to support up to 110 Master’s and PhD student researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields in a three-year period from eligible universities in India to participate in 12 to 24 weeks’ research with Canadian university research laboratories. The same number of researchers from Canadian universities will also participate in 12 to 24 weeks’ research with research laboratories of eligible Indian universities. Under the cross-border Industry-Academic Cooperation, up to 40 Master’s and PhD student researchers in three years from each side participate in 16 to 24 weeks’ research with industry partners located in the counterpart country.
The collaboration is expected to lead to new knowledge creation, joint scientific publications, Industrial exposure, IP generation, etc. This MoU will further strengthen the long-standing relationship in Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation with Canada.
Source: PIB Mukhi (Edited) The Kootneeti Team - Indian Diplomacy
